Regional Dialogue on Trade, Fisheries Negotiations under WTO/EU-ACP EPA and Sustainable Development in West Africa
19th – 20th June 2007 • Co-organised with Network on Fisheries Policies in West Africa (REPAO); ENDA DIAPOL; The National Institute for the Development of Fisheries (INDP); Ministry of Fisheries of Cape Verde
West Africa is a major player in global fish production and trade. Fish and fisheries products have become the most important foreign exchange earner for many of the countries in the region. This makes fisheries a critical part of the economic development prospects. At the same time, fisheries represent a significant contributor to employment and food and protein intake in the respective countries.
West Africa’ trade in fisheries is governed both by the WTO and GATT rules and agreements, but also the regional agreements between the European Union (EU) and the group of African, Caribbean and Pacific countries (ACP). The ACP countries account for nearly 35 percent of total EU fish imports (in value). Countries in West Africa account for 38 percent of total EU fish imports (in value) from ACP countries. As a result, fisheries have always been an essential aspect of the economic relations between the EU and ACP countries. At the bilateral level, these relations have for many years been structured under fishery agreements between the EU and individual countries of the region, whereby EU fishing vessels are allowed to operate in the countries in West Africa in return for compensation paid by the EU.
At the regional level, the terms and conditions of trade in fish and fish products between the EU and ACP countries are determined by the Cotonou Agreement (CA). The CA provides ACP countries for market-access into the EU on the basis of non-reciprocal trade preferences. These allow ACP countries to export their fish products to the EU without paying the import taxes applied to fisheries exports from other countries.
The current non-reciprocal preferential trade relations under the Cotonou Partnership Agreement between the EU and ACP countries are due to be replaced by comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between the EU and ACP regional groupings, which are set to be concluded by the end of the year 2007. Given the importance of fisheries in the relations between the EU and West Africa future changes to the trade regime that may result from the conclusion or non-conclusion of EPA, and their likely impact on trade preferences, are of key strategic importance for West African economies.